All these features are applied integrally to the facility, with related internal movements of products and materials, and can also have significant applications in logistics and warehousing, both inbound (to vendors) and outbound (to end customers or distributors); the latter is increasingly driven towards the ‘mass customisation’ required by eCommerce.

• extensive, real-time connectivity between people (customers, vendors, employees, partners), equipment, vehicles, products and materials, regardless of location and whether indoors or outdoors, enabled by the widespread use of Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS)—and the Internet, of course, the basis for expressions like Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Everything (IoE)

• process monitoring in real time, allowing constant adaptation to new events or critical issues and thus an enormous increase in flexibility and operational responsiveness

• the availability and usefulness of huge amounts of data (Big Data), the product of continued interactions between the different entities involved in processes and the ease of collecting and storing this data, increasingly in the ‘cloud’

• the use of increasingly sophisticated analytics tools that can extract value from the vast amount of data available, the identification and interpretation of relevant past situations (descriptive analytics), which helps in predicting trends and future situations (predictive analytics) and even suggests which actions to take (prescriptive analytics), assisted by artificial intelligence technologies

• the use of increasingly sophisticated simulation models that can, for example, allow new products to be prototyped and industrialised in a virtual environment, saving enormous amounts of expense and time

• the use of increasingly sophisticated manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing (additive manufacturing) and robotics

• the use of increasingly advanced technologies to improve human-machine interactions (e.g., augmented reality)

Consider the following pillars of Industry 4.0:

Ubiquicom’s solution for smart warehouse management LOGISTICS LOCATOR SUITE

Ubiquicomwww.ubiquicom.com

In today’s highly competitive global market, warehouse management is an essential element in reducing coststhroughout the supply chain and streamlining logistics, production processes and the use of resources.Technical innovations now allow businesses to install suites of integrated solutions to optimise warehousemanagement for total automation, while yielding consistent returns on this investment. Here, too, informationtechnologies, especially the Internet of Things, can provide valuable support by increasing supply chainoversight and control.

The pace of corporate digitisation keeps increasing, and in the industrial sector specifically there is a lot of talk about ‘Industry 4.0’.

is a technology company focused on designing and developinginnovative solutions for locating and tracking people and otherassets, as well as for real-time monitoring of safety proceduresat work

For more information:

Current critical issues in warehouse management

HOW TO TACKLE CRITICAL ISSUES? RTLS HAS THE ANSWER

THE ADVANTAGES OF RTLS SOLUTIONS

EXECUTIVE DOCUMENT

+ EFFICIENCY In using handling equipment, containers and areas for handling and storage

+ MONITORING Thanks to real-time integrated operations management in production areas, storage areas and handling areas, and in monitoring environmental conditions

+ SAFETY With automatic speed limit checking, collision avoidance systems and monitoring the usage of protective systems and “man down” events

+ DATA For report management to help with noting critical issues and waste and to optimise procedures and warehouse layouts

Poor management of handling equipment due to a lack of information on position, status (vacant or occupied), need for maintenance and battery charge level

Poor management of support structures and containers both inside the warehouse and in vehicle loading/unloading operations

Poor management of workplace safety regarding observation of speed limits for forklifts, proactive prevention of collisions between forklifts and between forklifts and pedestrians, and ensuring that only authorised personnel use the equipment

Management of warehouse operations that are not integrated in real time with operations in exterior areas areas (vehicles entering/exiting, tractors and trailers in holding areas and in loading/unloading docks, tractors and trailers performing loading/unloading), with manufacturing operations supplying production lines and handling the reception and storage of goods and related sorting) and the management system for the warehouse itself

Difficulties in ensuring full compliance with certain operationalrequirements like humidity, temperature and cold chain compliance throughout the supply chain

Difficulties in detecting critical issues in warehouse layouts and work organisation given a lack of constant visibility and detailed data on congestion, collisions avoided, wait times and operation times

Difficulties in managing storage locations in areas without shelving (loose, heavy/bulky, containerised and stacked products/materials), with consequent inefficiencies in locating goods and managing supplies and inventories

Setting up handling equipment and personnel with Ubiquicom’s ‘smart tags’ makes it possible to:• provide a communications channel in real time between people, machinery and the management system, completely reducing the time needed for communications and updates• collect real-time data in the field, thereby enabling the central orchestration of all operations in various locations, and the management of preventive maintenance of equipment• send alerts, notices, reports and alarms to those working on foot or in vehicles as needed • provide a complete summary snapshot at any time of the precise locations and status of all equipment, loading units and workers in the entire area

Systems to locate and track people and assets (RTLS) are revolutionising warehouse management, since they contribute significantly to resolving the main critical issues.Taking advantage of the potential of cloud computing and the ‘Internet of Things’ combined with technologies like RFID, WiFi, BLE and UWB, the Ubiquicom Logistics Locator Suite, when integrated with the Warehouse Management system, allows a company to take the optimal path towards digitising the warehouse and making goods and operations trackable, with all the attendant advantages in terms of visibility, control, efficiency and cost containment.

All these features are applied integrally to the facility, with related internal movements of products and materials, and can also have significant applications in logistics and warehousing, both inbound (to vendors) and outbound (to end customers or distributors); the latter is increasingly driven towards the ‘mass customisation’ required by eCommerce.

UBIQUICOM LOGISTICS LOCATOR SUITE

Ubiquicom’s solutions

Tracking handling equipment, containers and workers

• Real-time localisation of handling equipment • Real-time identification and localisation of pallets, crates, chests and other containers, even in areas without shelving• Real-time localisation of workers, whether on foot or using transport equipment • Monitoring the status of equipment (loading/unloading) and workers• Monitoring distances, routes and work assignments based on position• Controlling worker and equipment access to unauthorised areas• Tracking routes for retrospective statistical analysis and layout optimisation• Real-time integration with the Warehouse Management system

The use of special sensors (e.g., temperature sensors, container opening and closing, etc.) makes it possible to guarantee and certify compliance with work regulations, safeguard product quality and prevent theft and counterfeiting.

Targeted deployment of audio-visual devices that are linked in real time (e.g., LED/sound signals) can further speed up operations and drastically reduce the chance of errors.

Giving supervisors visibility into the overall warehouse situation allows them to better organise and manage human resources and equipment, both in real time and through retrospective analysis.

The Ubiquicom suite is designed for companies with their sights on efficient warehouse management and permits optimal monitoring, localising and managing of critical resources throughout the entire value chain. By combining tracking, distributed sensing and remote control functionalities, the Ubiquicom solutions have as their final objectives:• optimising investments in machinery and materials• optimising personnel management• improving service quality, which means customer satisfaction

Distributed sensing, remote control and centralised information management

• Optimising time and costs in pick-and-place operations through smart management, smart job assignments and route optimisation • Optimisation of loading/unloading operations (automatic identification of vendors and customers, automatic assignment of loading docks using displays, LEDs and buzzers)• Temperature monitoring in cold chains• Physical stress monitoring during transport• Remote diagnosis and optimisation of maintenance operations • Complete warehouse digitisation through the combined, integrated and optimised use of RFID, RTLS and mono/bi-dimensional bar code technologies and related devices (e.g., bar code printers and scanners, RFID readers, WiFi, etc.) integrated with the Warehouse Management system

Safety in warehouse areas and merchandise handling

• Monitoring parameters for handling equipment (battery charges, collisions, malfunctions and fault codes, the approach of conditions that require maintenance, etc.)• Real-time speed monitoring with an option to manage different alarms by zone • Checking driver identities with ignition locking for unapproved operators • Monitoring events like collisions, falls, “man down” events and calls for help for those working on foot • Preventing forklift-forklift and forklift-pedestrian collisions • Monitoring the use of Personal Protective Equipment

Ubiquicom’s recommendation for warehouse managementLOGISTICS LOCATOR SUITE

To learn more, just read our white paper ‘Warehouse 4.0’ at www.ubiquicom.com,or write to info@ubiquicom.com and one of our specialists will contact you.

Ubiquicomvia San Martino, 1220122 Milano (MI)Italy

Ubiquicom for warehouse management

Ubiquicom can help manufacturing, transportation and logistics companies that are looking for operationalexcellence and management efficiency in planning, designing, integrating and launching the most appropriatesolutions for warehouse management. We can do this because of our:• strong planning and technological skills• use of internally developed products to meet the typical requirements in this field• use and knowledge of the best third-party products on the market

www.ubiquicom.cominfo@ubiquicom.com

t +39 02 89 919 433f +39 02 39 195 042

Ubiquicom is a highly innovative Italian technology company that creates solutions for:• real-time localisation (RTLS: Real-Time Locating Systems) for people and assets and for indoor and outdoor applications• monitoring workers performing medium/high-risk activities • distributed sensing (Internet of Things)

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